I was there when my grandmother
died.
I was urged to say something as she went
but couldn't as I had already
said everything
I needed to say
during our front porch conversations
where she would tell me that kids
shouldn't have to be sad like we were
and answered my questions about life.

The idea of sending people off with peaceful
words doesn't make sense to me.
The peaceful words,
the staggering revelations,
the infinite bounty of love
should be said during life,
not on the brink of life everlasting.

Whispering wonders to the
dead and dying
is about as useful as painting
a broken window.
It looks pretty, but what does it really do?